Reflector unit



. March 5, 1940.

R. M. NETZ 2,192,557 REFLECTOR UNIT Filed 001. 6,1939

grime M900 Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 2,192,557 REFLECTOR UNIT Ralph M. Netz, Pcrrysburg, Ohio, assignor to Western Cataphote Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 6, 1939, Serial No. ,298,239

3 Claims,

This invention relates to signal devices, and particularly to holders for individual reflector units adapting them to be attached to wood, or other suitable material of a penetrable nature.

An object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character with which a reflector lens may: be. easily and quickly assembled and which is capable of being driven into secure penetrating engagement with a backing member of wood or similar comparatively soft material.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a reflector lens holder having prongs for driving into a penetrable mounting member and cooperating with said member when engaged thus providing a simple, economical and eflicient lens and holder assembly.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and while in its broader aspect it is capable of embodiment in different forms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a sign embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 22 in Fig. 1, which section is central of one of the reflector units; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with a reflector unit only partially driven into engagement with the mounting member, and Fig. 5 is a separated view of the holder and lens members of a reflecting unit with the former partly in section.

Referring to the drawing, l designates a mount, such as a board or some other suitable penetrable member, 2 a character painted or otherwise formed thereon, and 3 a reflector unit secured to the mounting I over the character 2 to render the latter attractive and readable in the dark when light rays are directed thereon, as well understood in the art. The surface of the mount I on which the reflector units 3 are mounted is preferably provided in its face with a bore or socket member when the holder is mounted thereon,

position within the holder. For this purpose, the

I for each unit, such socket being of a depth and size to receive the body portion of the unit.-

The reflector unit 3 in which the invention resides comprises'a holder 4 and lens 5. The lens 5 is of transparent material of a nature such, for instance, as glass, and having its outer end preferably of convex form and provided rearwardly' thereotwith a forwardly facing reflecting surface. In the present lens embodiment, the reflector surface is formed by a coating 6 on the rear end of the lens, as is common in the art. The lens is formed at or near its outer end with a surrounding forwardly facing shoulder l. The holder 4 is formed from a stiff sheet-like material, preferably sheet metal, and has a body part it] of less depth than the body portion of the lens and is of cylindrical shell-form of a shape and size in cross-section corresponding to the lens body. to permit one to be freely inserted into the other. The outer end of the body I is drawn inward or contracted to form an internal shoulder II for stop coaction with the shoulder l, or other registering enlargement on the lens 5.

The inner end of the holder body ID has its side wall formed with one or more rearwardly projecting spurs 12 which, when a lens has been inserted into a holder body from the rear, are bendable inwardly under and against the rear edge of the lens to retain it in proper assembled rear end of the lens body, when mounted in the holder, projects beyond the rear end of the holder, as shown.

The holder body Ill is also provided at the inner end of its side wallwith a plurality of rearwardly extending integral prongs l3 which are broad at their inner ends and gradually tapered to points at their outer ends. These prongs, in the present instance, are two in number and disposed in diametrically opposed relation, and a spur i2 is disposed in each crotch space therebetween.

When the prongs of a reflector unit 3 are forced into holding engagement with a mount I, in the present instance with the bottom of the respective socket l the lens 51 is forced into firm shouldered engagement with the outer inturned edge ll of the holder by pressure of the mount against its inner end. In addition, the registering mount surface, during a driving home of the holder prongs therein, engages the free ends of the spurs l2 and tends both to bend them into closer engagement. with the lens and to hold them in lens engaging position. 55

It is apparent that I have provided a lens holder which is simple and inexpensive in construction and capable of being. easily and quickly placed in holding engagement with a mount; that the lens is firmly held in fixed assembled relation with the holder by the mount when the holder is driven home in the mount, and also that simple means is provided for retaining the lens and holder in assembled relation and for cooperating with the mount when engaged therewith to firmly and rigidly secure the lens and holder together.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction, arrangement or form of the parts, as it is capable of numerous modifications and changes without departing from the spirit of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is: I

l. A reflector unit comprising separable lens and holder members, the holder being of stiff material and having a cylindrical body shell open at both ends with its outer end restricted and with attaching prongs projecting from its rear edge for driving into a mounting member and also having one or more bendable spurs projecting from its inner edge in spaced relation to said prongs, said lens being mounted in said holder in outward thrust coaction with the restricted outer end thereof and being retained in the holder by said spurs.

2. A reflector unit comprising a lens and a holder therefor separably mounted in telescoped relation; the holder having a body of hollow cylindrical form with both ends open and with its outer end restricted to form a stop shoulder for thrust coaction with the lens, said holder body having prongs projecting rearwardly from its rear edge for driving into a mount and having at such edge one or more rearwardly projecting spurs which are shorter than and spaced with relation to the prongs and bendable inwardly against the projecting inner end portion of the lens to hold it within the holder in thrust coaction with the outer restricted end thereof.

3. In a sign, a mounting member of penetrable material, and a reflector unit mounted thereon, said unit comprising a cylindrical lens holder of stiff material having both ends open with its forward end restricted and having at its rear end rearwardly projecting integral prongs for driving into the mount and also having at such end relatively short rearwardly projecting bendable spurs in the crotches between the prongs, and a lens mounted in the holder in shouldered engagement at its outer end with the restricted end of the holder and having its inner end projecting beyond the body portion of the holder to be engaged by said spurs when bent inwardly; said spurs being of a length to be engaged at their ends by the adjacent surface of the mount and forced thereby in firm holding engagement with the lens when the holder is forced home in the mount.

RALPH M. NETZ. 

